Author: Olivia Cunning

“I think he’s in the restroom,” Rebekah lied.

“As soon as he gets back, tell him to find me so we can make his big announcement.” Something caught his attention behind her. He smiled, showing yellowed teeth. “Oh good, your parents are here now. I’ll go say hello.”

Her parents? Rebekah’s heart skipped a beat. She cringed and chanced a glance over her shoulder. Sure enough, there was her mother in a fuchsia evening gown two sizes too small, and her father in his tweed church suit and unfashionably wide, yellow-and-blue striped tie. What in the world were they doing here? She supposed Isaac was like a son to them. They’d want to hear his big news. She wished Isaac would have told her that he’d invited them.

“Excuse me,” she said to Trey’s parents and climbed out the window behind the drapery in search of her escaped date.

She found Isaac staring at a shrub trimmed into the shape of a rearing horse. She touched his lower back, and he started.

“Your father is looking for you,” she said. “He says it’s time to make the announcement.”

He nodded slightly and bit his trembling lower lip. Her heart went out to him. She knew what heartache felt like. She’d experienced the empty, achy chasm in her chest not too long ago, due to the very man who was feeling it now.

“Trey’s probably being a jerk to set you free, sweetheart. To give you a clean break before you get too attached.”

“I don’t want to be set free.”

She rubbed his back and leaned against his arm. “Let’s go get this over with and then we can leave.”

“What about dinner?”

“I’ll pretend to feel sick.”

“I don’t need to pretend.”

She took his elbow and tugged him toward the house, steering away from the window to enter through the open terrace doors. “Why didn’t you tell me you invited my parents?”

Isaac’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t. They’re here?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s odd.”

When they stepped into the main gathering room, the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause. Rebekah smiled. Everyone was certainly excited to welcome Isaac into their fold. She was happy for him. She knew how hard he worked.

Dr. Crandall lifted his glass of champagne, and a hush fell over the crowd. “I want to thank you all for coming to my son’s engagement party. It’s about time the boy got hitched.”

Rebekah spun and glared at Isaac, who looked as flabbergasted as she felt. “You told them we were engaged?” she said in harsh whisper.

He shook his head. “No, of course not.”

Rebekah spun to the crowd. “We’re not engaged. We’re just friends.”

“That’s not true!” Rebekah’s mother cried. “They are engaged. They are.”

“What do you mean you’re not engaged?” Dr. Crandall bellowed.

“Isaac and I are just friends,” Rebekah said. “We never got back together after we broke up. In fact, I’m marrying someone else.”

“But your mother said—”

Everyone turned to look at her mom, and Rebekah could tell by the wild look in her eyes that she wasn’t well. Eric had tried to tell her that, but Rebekah had gotten too wrapped up in her own happiness to get her mom the help she needed.

“I’m sorry, Mom, but I’m not marrying Isaac. I’m marrying Eric.”

There was a twittering of “who’s Eric” throughout the crowd. Rebekah spotted Trey, and he offered a nod of encouragement. A friend in a sea of enemies.

Banshees had nothing on her mother’s shriek. “No! You have to marry Isaac. You have to! If you don’t, I’ll… I’ll… I’ll…” She repeatedly clenched and unclenched both fists. Dad grabbed her arm to prevent her from flying across the room and

attacking Rebekah.

“Mary,” he said, glancing nervously at all the upper-class citizens staring at her. “Calm down.”

“Mom, it will never work between us. Isaac’s…” She caught herself before she said gay and glanced at Isaac, who looked paler than an anemic ghost. “…not right for me.”

“You little tramp,” Mom screamed. “You’ve been shacking up with that filthy rock star, haven’t you? No wonder Isaac doesn’t want you.”

“Hey,” Trey protested, “I happen to like that filthy rock star.”

“It’s not her,” Isaac said quietly.

“Now you apologize to Isaac, Rebekah Esther Blake, and you beg him to take you back. You beg him!”

“Mother, I’m not going to marry Isaac. Get over it.”

“Stop saying that. Just stop!” She turned her tearful eyes to Isaac. “Isaac, sweetheart, she doesn’t mean it. She wants to marry you. Please take her back. Please! I know she’s wronged you, but—”

“It’s not her!” Isaac yelled. “It’s me. I’m gay. Okay?” He stared directly at Trey and said, “I’m in love with a man.”

Trey shook his head slightly and then turned his attention to the parquet floor.

Mom collapsed against Rebekah’s father in a fit of hysterical sobs.

“What?” Dr. Crandall grabbed his son by one arm. “What did you say?”

Isaac massaged his forehead with one hand. “This isn’t how I wanted to break this to you. Let’s go talk about this in private.”

Rebekah clutched the back of Isaac’s shirt, wanting to offer him comfort and at the same time keep her head above the churning waters that threatened to drown her.

“You’re gay?” Dr. Crandall bellowed. “My son is gay? Impossible!”

“Dad—” Isaac reached for his father’s hand, but he jerked away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Will you listen?” Isaac said, and wiped a leaky eye on the back of his hand.

“It’s not true,” Mom cried, her head pressed firmly between both palms. “Not true. Not true.”

“Get out of my sight,” Dr. Crandall said to Isaac. “You’re not my son. I never want to lay eyes on you again.”

“Dad—” Isaac gripped his father’s sleeve, but he shook him off.

“You are not my son.”

The wounded sound Isaac made cut Rebekah’s heart in two. He wavered on his feet, and she wrapped her arms around him to keep him from collapsing.

Mom was still shrieking hysterically.

Dad was still trying to calm her down in his unassuming way.

Isaac’s weight was suddenly off her. “Go help your mother,” Trey said quietly. “I’ve got him. I’ll take him home.”

Isaac clung to Trey, who walked him toward the front door. Rebekah turned to the unpleasant task of placating her mother.

“Don’t let him leave,” she was saying, one arm outstretched in Isaac’s direction. “Don’t let him leave without Rebekah.”

“Mom,” Rebekah said. She took Mom by both shoulders and gave her a harsh shake.

“Oh baby,” Mom wailed. “I’m so sorry he left. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. You’re too young to die.”

Sheesh, drama queen much? “I’m not going to die, Mom. Dad, go get the car.”

Mom’s entire body was shaking. “You are. You will. Soon. God will take you from me. I know He will.”

Rebekah knew her mother was delusional, but her words still hit Rebekah like a slap in the face. “Come on, Mom. Let’s go outside and get some fresh air.” And wait for Dad. And get away from all the staring eyes and scandalized whispers. And get her mother some really good antipsychotic drugs.

Mom followed her outside. She clung to Rebekah like a frightened little girl, with her arms around Rebekah’s waist and her head on her shoulder. Rebekah stroked Mom’s hair soothingly. “It’s going to be okay, Mom. Dad will get you some help.” The driveway was entirely full of cars now, so she led her mom toward the street at the end of the drive. When Dad pulled up in the van a few minutes later, Rebekah helped her mom inside.

“Don’t you marry that rock star guy. Don’t you marry him, Rebekah,” Mom was now muttering under her breath. “He’s not right for you. Don’t you marry him.”

Dad squeezed Mom’s hand and she started as if she hadn’t realized he was there. He leaned over her to look at Rebekah outside the vehicle. “Sweetheart, I’ll get your mother admitted, and then I’ll give you a call,” Dad said. “I think you should give her a couple days to pull herself together before you come visit.”

Rebekah bit her lip and nodded, knowing he was right. When Mom got confused like this the last time, they’d had to isolate her for a couple days so she could sort things out and get a grip on reality. And then she’d been perfectly fine. Or so it had seemed at the time.

“Do you have a way home?”

Eric. She knew she could count on him. She nodded. “I’ll be fine. Go take care of Mom.”

Her eyes stinging with unshed tears, Rebekah dug her cell phone out of her evening bag and called Eric.

“What’s up? Miss me already?” he answered. She could hear the smile in his voice.

“C-can y-you come g-get me?” Damn stuttering again.

He hesitated. “Yeah, of course. What happened?”

“Just h-hurry, okay? P-please.”

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yes.” She gulped air. He was the only thing in her life not falling apart, and she needed him. So much. “N-no.” She gulped more air. “I don’t know.”

“Where are you?”

“Still at the party. Do you know how to get here?”

“Yeah.” She knew he’d looked up the address when he’d been trying to convince her that she didn’t have to arrive at the party in Isaac’s car. “Will you tell me what’s going on?”

She told him everything that happened. “Anyway… I’m stuck here without a ride and would appreciate it if you would hurry.” She lowered her voice to a whisper and glanced up the driveway where a crowd of gawkers had gathered. “People are staring…”

“I’m on my way.”

He arrived more quickly than she thought possible. She was so happy to see him that she didn’t chastise him about his speeding. She climbed into the car, wrapped both arms around his neck, and kissed every inch of his face.

“Tomorrow I refuse to leave the house. I hope you don’t mind me monopolizing your entire birthday.”

He chuckled. “I have a birthday tomorrow?”

“And I have a whole slew of surprises for you.”

“Surprises? What kind of surprises?”

“If I told you, they wouldn’t be surprises.”

“True.” He took her hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. “Do you need to talk about what happened tonight?”

“No,” she said. “I’m going to pretend it never happened. On Monday I’ll face reality, but for the rest of the weekend there will be nothing but me and you and all our fantasies.”

He kissed her knuckles and eased the car away from the curve. “Well, if you insist.”

Chapter 33

The next morning, Eric opened his eyes to a bright blue box. Resting on Rebekah’s vacated pillow, the box was tied shut with a thick white ribbon. He rose to look around the room and was disappointed to find himself alone. Even the cocktail dress that had been hanging from the ceiling fan when he’d passed out from exhaustion the night before was now gone. He sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed and reached for the box. It had a little card attached that said, Happy 1st Birthday, sweetheart. Please open immediately. Rebekah